Unemployed? Here’s what to do next!

Finding out that are you are being laid off is an inconvenient and unpleasant experience, even traumatic for some. Whether you live alone or with your family, it’s never an exciting prospect to rely just on welfare, but you have to make the best out of a bad situation and try to get back on track as soon as possible. Feeling lost, disappointed and confused is totally normal, but the best way to overcome bad thoughts is to create a solid action plan and stay organized. These are the steps you should follow.

1. Update your situation at your local unemployment office

One positive aspect that you can expect from unemployment is that you will receive monthly money installments from your local unemployment office. However, in order for the whole process to run smoothly, you have to make sure your details and social situation are updated. If you live in France, you have to actualiser situation 93. Some prefer to go down to the office themselves, but in this day and age this isn’t vital, because you can simply call them or email them the necessary paperwork. You should do this as soon as possible to make sure you receive all the money at the right address or in the right bank account.

2. Look for courses or training

In France and not only, more and more people are being laid off simply because what they used to do is no longer relevant or necessary. This is especially the case with manual labor, which is slowly being replaced by machines. As unpleasant as it might be to see this happen, you should try to change your career, because you can. There are many courses that you can follow in order to learn a new trade and the great news is that many of these courses are organized by the local unemployment office and they are free to enroll.

3. Contact an employment agency

If you don’t have the time to send your resume to dozens of companies, you can contact an employment agency instead and they can find you a job. Simply tell them what careers you are interested in and they will let you know when something shows up. You might also want to mention the recruitment agency what other notable skills you have, because your new job doesn’t necessarily have to be just like the old one. For example, if you used to work as an accountant, but have a degree in marketing, you might be able to find something in marketing instead.

4. Know the employment market

Last, but not least, knowing your local employment market will help you take advantage of more opportunities. Find out what sectors are active in your region and what companies are currently hiring. If you hear that a new company is opening a new branch in town, send them your CV and tell them that you are available for an interview. Needless to say, you should approach every possible offer with professionalism and create a powerful first impression.